FORMATSBACK
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
The Republican victory of a Georgia district’s special election sheds a light on the Democrats’ failure to come up with a more inspiring agenda, argues Matthew Yglesias of Vox. John Ossoff, the Democratic nominee, like Hillary Clinton, positioned himself too neutrally, not standing for any grand ideas that could woo voters. This strategy allowed Republicans to shape the election’s conversation in a way that was favorable to themselves. They discredited Ossoff by painting him as an outsider, which ended up working. Democrats need to take a stronger stance, playing on their strengths and the Republicans’ weaknesses.
Keep on reading at VoxThe Democrats having lost recent special elections doesn’t reflect policy shortcomings but flawed marketing thereof, particularly compared to Republicans, writes Paul Waldman of The Week. Accusations that they don’t have an agenda should, instead, target the way they present their agenda. Republicans have mastered the art of slogans and simple messages to rile up supporters. If anything, Democrats probably have stronger ideas about policy, but struggle to make them palpable for the electorate. Recent election losses in majority Republican states do not reflect limitations in the Democratic agenda.
Keep on reading at The Week